Re: Father's dilema

In Reply to: Father's dilema posted by Kerrie on June 25, 1999 at 09:18:23:

: My father was injured on the job through his company several years ago. Over five years ago, he took an early retirement even though he was on worker's compensation due to the injury. One of the settlements in workers comp was that he could keep his health insurance until he turned 65, at which time Medicare would become primary coverage. He has medicare now due to the disability, but it is secondary to the health insurance coverage (group coverage provided by the company. Now, they are saying my mother's insurance coverage will expire from April - September (the time my fahter turns 65 - April, until she turns 65 in Spet. and become Medcare eligible. My question is??????? Isn't my mother eligible to continue under COBRA, since the qualifiying event (my father turning 65 and becoming Medicare eligible) takes place in April. My mother should then be eligible to continue under COBRA. Any responses out there?

On the assumption that the father remained a "covered employee" and that hisreaching age 65 becomes a COBRA qualifying event, then his wife would be aqualified beneficiary and should be entitled to elect COBRA continuationcoverage.